CVE-2026-98552

perf/core: Fix a refcount leak in attach_perf_ctx_data()

Published Oct 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 2.5 Low EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

perf/core: Fix a refcount leak in attach_perf_ctx_data()

The attach_perf_ctx_data() can race on global and !global cases. The
global case is protected by global_ctx_data_rwsem and shares a single
reference count using perf_ctx_data.global field.

But when it races with !global case, it may miss to set the global field
and result in a reference count leak.

CPU1 CPU2
----------------------------------------------------------------
attach_task_ctx_data(.global=1) attach_task_ctx_data(.global=0)
cd1 = alloc_perf_ctx_data(); cd2 = alloc_perf_ctx_data();
// { .global = 0, .refcount = 1 };

try_cmpxchg(); // success,
// task->perf_ctx_data = cd2
try_cmpxhg(); // fail; old = cd2
refcount_inc_not_zero(&old->refcount); // success
// old.refcount = 2
free_perf_ctx_data(cd1);

Then later detach_global_ctx_data() will see the data but it's not
marked as global, so it won't call detach_task_ctx_data().

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-401
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-911
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 2.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-401
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf/core: Fix a refcount leak in attach_perf_ctx_data() The attach_perf_ctx_data() can race on global and !global cases. The global case is protected by global_ctx_data_rwsem and shares a single reference count using perf_ctx_data.global field. But when it races with !global case, it may miss to set the global field and result in a reference count leak. CPU1 CPU2 ---------------------------------------------------------------- attach_task_ctx_data(.global=1) attach_task_ctx_data(.global=0) cd1 = alloc_perf_ctx_data(); cd2 = alloc_perf_ctx_data(); // { .global = 0, .refcount = 1 }; try_cmpxchg(); // success, // task->perf_ctx_data = cd2 try_cmpxhg(); // fail; old = cd2 refcount_inc_not_zero(&old->refcount); // success // old.refcount = 2 free_perf_ctx_data(cd1); Then later detach_global_ctx_data() will see the data but it's not marked as global, so it won't call detach_task_ctx_data().
Title perf/core: Fix a refcount leak in attach_perf_ctx_data()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 19, 2026, 9:21 AM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 18, 2026, 4:17 PM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 10:19 AM
Severity
Low
Public date
Oct 18, 2026, 12:00 AM